This week’s Wild Line looks at the end of the shutdown, what the new continuing resolution means for public lands and civil servants, and how Congress is lining up for a busy set of hearings next week. We follow new pressure on the Public Lands Rule, a withdrawn National Park Service nomination, the latest turns in the Colorado River negotiations, and reactions to a federal move that sidelines tribal approval on hydroelectric projects. We also cover Chevron’s major energy plans in West Texas, new proposed activity in the Western Arctic, and a report highlighting key Colorado landscapes ready for lasting protection.

Government Reopens with New Continuing Resolution — Washington, DC

The House passed and President Trump signed a continuing resolution that reopens the government and funds it through January 30, 2026. The bill includes three fiscal year 2026 spending bills covering Agriculture, the Legislative Branch, and Veterans Affairs and Military Construction.

The legislation requires agencies to rehire civil servants laid off during the shutdown and provide backpay. It prevents further layoffs during the duration of the CR, extends the National Flood Insurance Program through 2026, and adds funding for wildfire management and state and tribal assistance grants for infrastructure projects.

The bill cuts funding for USDA’s 10 climate hubs while increasing Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations by 50 million dollars. It also directs hundreds of millions of dollars toward environmental remediation related to “forever chemicals.”

Key Bills Teed Up for Hearings — Washington, DC

With the government reopened, Congress is returning to hearings and markups.

In the House, the ESA Amendments Act and the SPEED Act are both expected to be heard Tuesday in the House Committee on Natural Resources. The ESA Amendments Act changes consultation requirements for threatened and endangered species and allows opinion to be counted as scientific expertise. The SPEED Act eases National Environmental Policy Act reviews for new energy projects.

In the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has scheduled a hearing on how the Bureau of Land Management’s Federal Land Policy and Management Act land use planning process affects permitting for energy, mining, grazing, and infrastructure on public lands.

Democrats Press to Keep the Public Lands Rule — Washington, DC

Democratic lawmakers, led by Congressman Jared Huffman, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum urging him not to revoke BLM’s Public Lands Rule. The letter, signed by 61 Democrats across the House and Senate, called the rule “critical to meeting BLM’s statutory obligations, sustaining and realizing the benefits of multiple uses compatible with public lands… and ensuring these special landscapes remain healthy and productive for all Americans to enjoy for years to come.”

Susan Buxton, the Administration’s preferred pick to lead the National Park Service, withdrew her candidacy. Buxton, currently director of Idaho Parks and Recreation, said she was “honored to be considered” but stepped back for family reasons.

Colorado River Negotiations Extended — Western States

The Trump Administration extended the deadline for the seven states negotiating the next Colorado River agreement to mid-February. Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation Scott Cameron had requested a framework by November 11.

Colorado River Authority Chair Gene Shawcroft said no deadline was missed and that negotiators had made enough progress on determining how states will share a drought-stricken Colorado River to justify moving the deadline.

Tribes Push Back After Federal Change to Hydropower Approvals — Washington, DC

Energy Secretary Chris Wright ended a policy requiring approval from local tribes before FERC can permit hydroelectric projects. Tribal groups are responding by defending the original policy. Wright called the requirement “an unnecessary burden on the development of critical infrastructure,” while tribes argued that early consultation helps avoid litigation and better aligns projects with Indigenous priorities.

Chevron Plans Major Natural Gas Plant for Data Center Demand — Texas

Chevron announced plans for a large natural gas plant in West Texas that will bypass the electric grid and directly power data centers. Analysts at S&P Global expect electricity demand to increase by nearly a quarter compared to 2024 due to data center growth.

The planned plant is expected to generate between 2.5 and 5 gigawatts of power, enough for up to 1.8 million homes. Chevron plans additional plants in the future.

BLM Advances ConocoPhillips Exploration Plans in the Western Arctic — Alaska

The Bureau of Land Management released plans allowing ConocoPhillips to conduct seismic studies and drill exploratory wells in the Western Arctic’s National Petroleum Reserve. The seismic work would last a year. Four drilling wells and access right-of-way would span 300 square miles of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area and Colville River Special Area, both biologically important landscapes.

The Trump Administration set a one-week comment period and scheduled two Alaska community meetings after the comment period closes.

New Report Highlights Colorado Wildlands Ready for Protection — Colorado

Wilderness Workshop released a report, Wild For Good,  identifying ten Colorado landscapes considered anchors in a strong wildlands network and ready for durable protective designations. Campaign Director Michael Gorman spoke about the importance of these places and the organization’s history.

“These are areas that are really important to us as an organization and to our communities across the western slope. Each of these areas was identified because they are valuable for ecological reasons or recreation resources, and they already have a lot of community support behind them. This report is meant to focus attention on these landscapes, build momentum, and help our community speak with one voice about where protection is most urgent and why.

We want to create the opportunity to be proactive instead of reacting to every new threat that pops up. Even this morning, or maybe last night, there was another tweet about the next awful news about NEPA or oil and gas leasing. Rather than watching these places get chipped away at and seeing foundational environmental laws get subverted, we want to set the agenda for these priority places and have a proactive voice.

It’s been a tough year for conservationists and people who care about public lands. We’re doing all sorts of important defensive work, but we also know that people still want to be proactive and protect the places they love before it’s too late.

We were founded in the 60s by three badass women who worked to secure wilderness designations for the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness and expansions of nearby wilderness areas. We were founded by a group of women working on proactive, permanent designations, and now it’s our turn to carry on that legacy,” said Michael Gorman, Wilderness Workshop.

Next Week

Join us Tuesday for the second part of our look at American Prairie, one of the largest conservation projects in the country. In Part Two, CEO Alison Fox and Director of Rewilding Danny Kinka take us inside the work happening right now, how they balance community relationships with ambitious restoration goals, and what it takes to keep momentum on a landscape this big. They share the wins, the challenges, and the path ahead as American Prairie moves from vision to long-term reality.

The Wild Line will return next Friday with your latest conservation news roundup.

Until then — Act up and run wild.

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